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Get to Know Rush Star Tom Ellis, Your Newest TV Obsession

"You needed mushy peas," says U.K. native Tom Ellis over beers. It's true. I went to London for the first time ever last week and passed up the mainstay mushy peas for the garden variety. "You're hysterical," he mutters, almost spitting out his beer. "But you at least did the fish and chips right. Smart move!" Suffice it to say, I doubt the hot-as-heck star of USA's new drama Rush has ever had this conversation before.

But Ellis is experiencing a lot of firsts, as he introduces himself to U.S. audiences in the title role of Rush, a renegade physician who plays by his own rules. Best known for series in Britain such as Miranda, Gates, and Doctor Who, this self-proclaimed "bad boy" from Bangor, Wales, is ready for what's next, which may or may not include a duet with Michael Bolton. Read on.

Glamour: Over the weekend, you threw out the first pitch at a Dodgers game, which was an insane experience considering what happened at the end of the game.Tom Ellis: I was delighted to throw out the first pitch, as I’ve never been to a game before! They gave me a jersey and asked me what I wanted on the back and what number. So I said Ellis #17 because it’s my birthday, and I use it in my email and Twitter, etc. It's also the day that Rush premieres. I got there, and it was incredible and then it was 0-0 going into the ninth inning. The Dodgers came in, two outs, the bases were loaded, and up to the plate steps #17, A.J. Ellis. I didn’t even know he existed before I picked my shirt, and he scored the winning run! I’m a Dodger fan for life now. Wait until you see the photographic evidence! [Ed note: We have it! See below.]

Glamour: Speaking of photos, I need to show you what I drove past on the way to the Beverly Hilton this morning. Tom: Haha!

Glamour: Have you seen yourself on a bus yet?Tom: No, because I film in Vancouver!Glamour: So what honestly goes through your mind when you see something like this?Tom: Honestly, I get really excited! I’m not going to pretend I’m not excited. That’s f**king great! What I need to do is find one of the billboards and pose in front of it and send it to Mom and Dad.

Glamour: So the show shoots in Vancouver, which is amazing because of all the location shots you do in L.A.Tom: Yes, especially all the shots we show of me driving in L.A. listening to Debbie Gibson. She actually contacted me this week! On Twitter!Glamour: No way.Tom: Yes! She tweeted, "Hi Tom, it’s Debbie Gibson. I’m so delighted that I’m in the show. I can’t wait to see it!"Glamour: Oh my gosh—she needs to make a cameo now.Tom: Oh, we’ll get her in for sure!

Glamour: Speaking of the show, you play quite the complicated character.Tom: Yes, and I love the way we tell the story. It’s not a procedural medical drama, and it won’t be. It’s about Rush, the man. Glamour: He’s not inherently a good guy, so how did you find the more empathetic moments?Tom: That was the challenge, certainly. When I read the script for the first time, I kind of fell in love with Rush a little bit. For any character you play, it’s important to find the empathy or sympathy in that person. You don’t have to condone what they’re doing, but get some understanding of where they’re at.

Just in case you don't know who he is, I made Tom hold up this sign. But trust me, you won't have any problem learning his name after tonight.

Glamour: You have three daughters in real life. If one of them brought home a guy like Rush, what would you do?Tom: God, that’s a difficult question! But it’s a great question, and the best one I’ve had all day. I’d like to think that I’d be cool because my parents gave us a long leash, but they were always there when the f--k-ups happened, but not in a judge-y way. They encouraged our independence and for us to think for ourselves. I’d like to think I’ll be like that, but I don’t know. [Laughs] I’d probably take him out to try and find out a bit more about him myself!

Glamour: I love the relationship that Rush has with Odette Annable’s character because for the first time you see his vulnerability. She’s the one woman that gets to him. When it comes to these bad boys, what is about these girls that makes them lose that tough exterior?Tom: Odette and I talked a lot about it. I think she’s the one character that can look right into his eyes and see beyond what’s on the outside and right into his soul. As much as he finds that endearing, and that’s part of why he loves her, it’s also a very exposing place for him to be, and he’s a guy that doesn’t want to be exposed. If someone has that power over you, it’s a double-edged sword.Glamour: Will we see Rush with a different girl every episode and will Odette’s character be in the series throughout?Tom: Haha. Odette will be in the season, but Rush wouldn’t be Rush unless there was a lot of women.

Glamour: Music plays a big role in the series, as well as Rush's questionable taste.Tom: Haha. I love '80s music. They made a playlist for Rush and '80s music is my guilty pleasure. One of the songs that I put in there is Michael Bolton’s "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You?"Glamour: Shut up! Do you know how much I love Michael Bolton?Tom: And do you know how much that’s in the next episode?! I’m singing it in the car!Glamour: I want to interview Michael Bolton and ask him one question: "Michael, how can we be lovers if we can’t be friends?"Tom: [Laughs] Let me ask you one more thing before I go—tell me, how am I supposed to live without you? When all that I’ve been living for is gone?Glamour: This is amazing. We need to go on tour. Tom: Clearly.

Jessica RadloffWest Coast entertainment writer. Always trying to make each interview more fun than the last. Obsessed with the St. Louis Cardinals, Scott Speedman, Sprinkles cupcakes--and apparently the letter S.